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Lot Essay
It is on watches such as the present probably unique example that Audemars Piguet built the foundations of the exceptional brand that it has become today. This watch gives collectors the chance to obtain not only a highly complicated timepiece of the utmost quality and desirability but a significant piece of Audemars Piguet history.
This resplendent reference 25630 ‘Grand Complication’ with pavé diamond-set dial is numbered ‘001’ and thought to have been made as a unique piece. According to the Audemars Piguet Archives, the movement ébauche was bought from LeCoultre & Cie in 1973 although it is likely to date originally from the 1930s, one of the ‘golden ages’ of the Grand Complication. The watch was completed by Audemars Piguet as caliber ‘JSMCCRVQ’ and sold to Hong Kong on 11 August 1986.
A ‘Grand Complication’ is considered the pinnacle of traditional horological excellence. The combination of minute repeating, split-seconds chronograph, and a perpetual calendar with moon phases is considered the classic ‘triple crown’ of watchmaking and Audemars Piguet’s executions of these masterpieces of micromechanics are considered to be among the best ever made. Indeed, the company have had an uninterrupted production of Grande Complication watches since 1882. Such are the skills and length of time required to create these masterpieces that the total number of Grande Complication watches produced in the 120 years until 2002 was only 58. The grand complication was, and still remains, the watch of choice for the most discerning and most affluent in the world.
As a rule, an Audemars Piguet ‘Grand Complication’ has certain obligatory features to qualify it for the title. These include the split-seconds chronograph; patented by Louis Perrelet in 1827, it became one of Jules Audemars specialities from the start; a perpetual calendar and a minute repeater. Furthermore, all Audemars Piguet grand complication watches include a moon phase indicator in addition to the three main complications.
Showcasing Audemars Piguet’s supremacy in traditional fine watch making, the present watch can be considered a highly impressive horological achievement and an ultimate prize for the collector.
This ‘Grande Complication’ impresses with no less than 10 complications (in addition to the essential timekeeping functions such as hours, minutes and seconds which are not considered complications):
1. The perpetual calendar
2. The days of the week
3. The months
4. The days of the month
5. The leap-year indication
6. The chronograph
7. The 30-minute register
8. The split seconds
9. The minute repeating
10. The phases of the moon & moon’s age
This resplendent reference 25630 ‘Grand Complication’ with pavé diamond-set dial is numbered ‘001’ and thought to have been made as a unique piece. According to the Audemars Piguet Archives, the movement ébauche was bought from LeCoultre & Cie in 1973 although it is likely to date originally from the 1930s, one of the ‘golden ages’ of the Grand Complication. The watch was completed by Audemars Piguet as caliber ‘JSMCCRVQ’ and sold to Hong Kong on 11 August 1986.
A ‘Grand Complication’ is considered the pinnacle of traditional horological excellence. The combination of minute repeating, split-seconds chronograph, and a perpetual calendar with moon phases is considered the classic ‘triple crown’ of watchmaking and Audemars Piguet’s executions of these masterpieces of micromechanics are considered to be among the best ever made. Indeed, the company have had an uninterrupted production of Grande Complication watches since 1882. Such are the skills and length of time required to create these masterpieces that the total number of Grande Complication watches produced in the 120 years until 2002 was only 58. The grand complication was, and still remains, the watch of choice for the most discerning and most affluent in the world.
As a rule, an Audemars Piguet ‘Grand Complication’ has certain obligatory features to qualify it for the title. These include the split-seconds chronograph; patented by Louis Perrelet in 1827, it became one of Jules Audemars specialities from the start; a perpetual calendar and a minute repeater. Furthermore, all Audemars Piguet grand complication watches include a moon phase indicator in addition to the three main complications.
Showcasing Audemars Piguet’s supremacy in traditional fine watch making, the present watch can be considered a highly impressive horological achievement and an ultimate prize for the collector.
This ‘Grande Complication’ impresses with no less than 10 complications (in addition to the essential timekeeping functions such as hours, minutes and seconds which are not considered complications):
1. The perpetual calendar
2. The days of the week
3. The months
4. The days of the month
5. The leap-year indication
6. The chronograph
7. The 30-minute register
8. The split seconds
9. The minute repeating
10. The phases of the moon & moon’s age